Camden's Britannia newly translated into English, with large additions and improvements ; publish'd by Edmund Gibson ...

The County of GALLWAY.

THE County of Gallway, on the south borders upon Clare, on the west upon the Ocean, on the north upon the County of Meth, and on the east upon the river Shanon. The soil very well requites the pains both of the husband-man and the shepherd. The west-side is much chop'd and dint∣ed with many little aestuaries, bordered all along with a mixture of green Islands and rugged rocks; among them are the four Islands called Arran,* 1.1 which make a Barony; fabulously talk'd of, as if they were the Islands of the living [and the inhabitants exempt from the common fate of mortals:] Next, Inis-ceath, for∣merly famous for a Monastery of Scots and English founded by Colman, a person of great sanctity: and Inis Bovind,* 1.2 which signifies in Scotch (as Bede has ex∣plained it) the Isle of white heifers; though the word is really British. This Monastery was soon abandon∣ed by the English, who could not live peaceably and easie with the Scots.* 1.3 More inward lies Lough Corbes, (where Ptolemy places the river Ausoba) about 20 miles in length, and 3 or 4 in breadth; navigable, and adorned with 300 petty Islands which produce much grass and Pine trees. Towards the sea it grows narrow, and runs by Gallway,* 1.4 in Irish Gallive; yet I dare not affirm it so call'd from the Gallaeci in Spain. This is by far the most eminente 1.5 City in this Coun∣ty, and which in competition with the other cities of Ireland, would hardly accept the third place. 'Tis neat, and fair-built with firm stone, of an oval form, and somewhat tower-like; famous for a Bishops See, and by reason of its harbour, and the road already mentioned just under it, well frequented by mer∣chants, and enriched by a great trade in all sorts of commodities both by sea and land. Scarce four miles from hence stands Knoc-toe, i.e. A hill of hatchets; under which the greatest body of rebels that had been seen in Ireland,* 1.6 were drawn together by William de Burgo, O-Brien, Mac Nemare, and O-Carrall, and de∣feated with great slaughter by that Girald Earl of Kil∣dare, who* 1.7 from time to time was thirty three years Lord Deputy of Ireland. On the east, at no great distance from hence, stands Aterith,* 1.8 (in which word the name of the Auteri is still apparent) commonly called Athenry, enclosed with walls of a great compass, but thinly inhabited. It has had the honour of giving the title of Baron to the valiant John de Bermingham,* 1.9 an Englishman; of which family was the Earl of Louth. These Berminghams are now so degenerated, that they

hardly own themselves English. The Irish families of better note in these parts, are the O-Kellies,a 1.10 O-Maidins,b 1.11 O-Flairtes, Mac-Dervis, &c.

* 1.12Clan-Richard, i.e. the sons or posterity of Richard, or the land of the sons of Richard, borders upon these, and is reckoned within this County. They take their name, after the Irish manner, from one Richard an Englishman, sirnamed De Burgo, and afterwards came to have great authority and interest in these parts. Ulick de Burgo, one of this family, was by Henry the 8 made Earl of Clan-Ricard; whose eldest son now enjoys the title of Baron of Inis Kellin. He had a son Richard, the second Earl, whose children (by several venters) involved their father, their coun∣try, and themselves, in great difficulties. Richard, who died old, was succeeded by his son Ulick, the third Earl; he had a son Richard, the fourth Earl, whose untaint∣ed loyalty to the English, and great valour have been eminent in the most dangerous Rebellions of this Kingdom.* 1.13 The Archbishop of Toam's See lyes in this County, which had formerly several Episcopal Sees under it, but at present this Province comprises only the Sees of* 1.14 Anagchony, Duae, and Maio. The Bi∣shoprick of Kilmacough, (which is not mentioned in the old Provincial, unless the name there be corrupted) as also the Bishoprick of Clonfert, are both in this Province, and as I am informed,c 1.15 annext to the See of Toam.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 of ••ron.
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 lib. 4. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Eccl. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.3

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••is.
• * 1.4

  ••••••ay.
• e 1.5

  Galway is not a City, nor Bishop's See; but is within the A••chbishoprick of Tuam; though the Warden of Galway contested the jurisdiction, pretending to be a Peculiar.
• * 1.6

  The battle of Knoc∣toe, 1516.
• * 1.7

  Per in∣tervalla.
• * 1.8

  Aterith.
• * 1.9

  Berming∣ham.
• a 1.10

  O-Madden.
• b 1.11

  O-Flagherty.
• * 1.12

  Clan-Ri∣chard. Earl Clan-Richard.
• * 1.13

  Arc••bi∣sh p••i•••• of T••••••
• * 1.14

  〈…〉〈…〉.
• c 1.15

  Clonfert is not united to Tuam.